Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, pianist and cellist. She has a phenomenal mastery for seamlessly crossing the boundaries of classical, jazz, reggae, soul and R&B, to imprint her unique musical signature with her virtuosic tap, strum and bow with her cello into her sound and vibe

Graduating with a first-class degree from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and the Manhattan School of Music, whilst studying at the latter, she became the only non-American to win “Amateur Night Live” at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NYC. With nominations from the MOBO Awards and the RPS Instrumentalist Awards, Ayanna was a recent recipient of the Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Classical Award.

An acclaimed and celebrated performer, Ayanna has collaborated with many stellar artists, including Akala, Andrea Bocelli, Anoushka Shankar, Jools Holland, Nitin Sawhney, and Peter Gabriel, whether co-creating and/or touring.

As a composer, Ayanna has been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Güerzenich Orchester, Kronos Quartet, Solem Quarter and The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company to name a few. She continues to inspire with compositions such as ‘FAIYA!’ performed by the London Symphony Orchestra in Trafalgar Square (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle) and ‘Blush’ performed by the Chineke! Orchestra and The Phoenix Symphony.

With four EP releases and a debut album (Road Runner) under her belt, work is in progress on a follow up album. Her talent has also seen her compose for the sold out hit theatre production, ‘The Collaboration’, at London’s Young Vic Theatre, and the more recent Bush Theatre production entitled ‘My Father’s Fable’.

A performer of extraordinary versatility, Ayanna is the definition of eclectic soul.